By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
Pakistan, 25 January 2026 Pakistan and Somalia have agreed to abolish visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, Pakistan’s presidency said on Saturday, as the two countries discussed expanding cooperation in security, law enforcement and counter-narcotics efforts.
The agreement was signed during a meeting between Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Somalia’s Interior Minister Ali Yousuf in Islamabad, marking the first official bilateral visit from Somalia to Pakistan in more than three decades.
President Zardari said Pakistan was keen to strengthen ties with African countries, including Somalia, and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to closer bilateral engagement. Africa plays an increasingly important role in the global geopolitical landscape, he said, according to an official statement.
Both sides discussed enhancing cooperation in law enforcement and criminal justice, including the possibility of negotiating an extradition treaty, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the transfer of sentenced persons.
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The talks also covered collaboration against transnational crime, narcotics trafficking and organised crime, with an emphasis on intelligence sharing, training and capacity building.
Pakistan offered technical assistance through its National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in areas such as identity management, civil registration and secure documentation systems, as well as training for Somalia’s police force, the presidency said.
Yousuf described Pakistan as a long-standing and reliable partner, recalling the role of Pakistani peacekeepers in United Nations missions in Somalia during the 1990s. He conveyed greetings from Somalia’s president and expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended by Pakistani authorities.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry were also present at the meeting, along with Somalia’s ambassador to Pakistan, SheikhNuur Mohamed Hassan and senior police officials.